Shipping and storage container



Sept. 24; 1935 CEELY 2,015,419

SHIPPING AND STORAGE CONTAINER- Filed Jan. 19, 1935 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics SHIPPING AND STORAGECONTAINER Arthur G. Ceely, Longmeadow, Mass, assignor to The FiberloidCorporation, Indian Orchard, Mass, a corporation of MassachusettsApplication January 19, 1935, Serial No. 2,556

4 Claims.

5 is especially adapted for shipping and storage purposes. While thenovel features of my container make it suitable for many and variouspurposes, it is particularly suitable for the storage and shipping ofsheet material, such as sheets of cellulose ester material or the like.

According to special features of the invention, the container is lightin weight yet strong and durable in construction so as to be capable ofwithstanding severe shocks and strains during handling.

In the shipping of sheet material, such as sheets of cellulose estermaterial, which are of considerable area, the usual dimensions beingabout 22 inches wide by 52 inches long, it has been customary to packstacks of the sheets in wooden boxes. These wooden 'boxes, in order thatthey might stand the usual strains of shipping, have been made of oneinch board. The boxes were relatively thin as compared with their widthand length because of the nature of the contents and have not beensatisfactory for many reasons, among which are the facts that they areexpensive to manufacture and require considerable nailing.

Furthermore, such wooden boxes despite, and perhaps because of, theirbulkiness easily become broken and cracked during shipping. As is wellknown, wood readily dries out so that there are produced cracks andopenings therein. Consequently dust has been known to get into the boxesand impair the material. Also, since the boxes made of wood must be madepurposely heavy in order to be sufficiently strong to withstand thestrains, their first cost is excessive and the shipping expenses areobjectionably high.

According to the features of this invention, there is provided ashipping container which is light in weight so that it may be readilyhandled and shipped at low cost and is possessed of great strength andrigidity. The container, because of its novel construction, may bereadily assembled and packed.

Various other novel features and advantages of the invention will bemore fully referred to in the accompanying description of the presentpreferred form thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the parts of the container of theinvention in separated relation;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a corner of the outerelement of the container;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view showing theconstruction of the supporting member of the container;

Fig. 4 is a small-scale perspective view of the container of theinvention with the parts in assembled relation; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational view through theend portion of the container.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail, the invention will be fullydescribed.

The container of the invention in a general way consists essentially ofan inner tray member 2, a reinforcing member f and an outer cover member6. These members are arranged for telescopic engagement, one with theother, as will shortly appear.

The tray member 2 is preferably made of corrugated fibre board or thelike and has a bottom wall portion 8, side wall portions 10, and endwalls 2. The side and end wall portions ii) and i2 are arranged forbending into a set up position wherein they extend upwardly from thebottom wall 8, substantially as shown.

The reinforcing member 4 is composed of relatively rigid material suchas Wood or the like. This consists of side wall portions M and end wallportions it, the ends of which are secured together in some suitablemanner to form a substantially rigid frame.

According to the preferred form of the inven tion, as shown in Fig. 3,the portions M and it of the reinforcing member have their ends providedwith interfitting alternate grooves l8 and ribs 28 which may be securedtogether in some manner, as by gluing.

The cover member 6 is preferably made from corrugated fibre board or thelike, but it is desired to point out that it need not necessarily be ofthe same material as the tray 2. The cover has an outer wall 22, sidewalls 24 and end walls 26. There are endmost portions such as 28 oncertain of the walls of the cover such as the side and end walls l4 andN5 of the frame. The cover 6 is of such size that its end and side wallsmay embrace the said frame.

In this way, the tray 2, reinforcing frame 4, and cover 6, are adaptedto be arranged in telescopic relation. It will be noted that in theirtelescoped position, the walls of the frame are disposed between thewall members of the tray and cover.

In packing the container, the contents are placed within the tray. Inthe case of sheets of material, the sheets are, of course, arranged instacked relation on the bottom wall 8 of the tray and their marginaledges may be wrapped, if desired.

The sheets S are disposed in the tray and the tray 2 is disposed withinthe reinforcing frame. Since, as stated, the tray is preferably made ofcorrugated fibre board or similar material, its side walls are adaptedto function more or less as a cushion for the edges of the sheets. This,of course, protects .the edges of the sheets as is desirable in the caseof pliable sheets of pyroxylin.

After the cover is slipped over the reinforcing frame, with the sheetsthus packed, the container is then handed in some suitable way such asby means of a plurality of metal straps, indicated by 32. Thesepreferably extend lengthwise and crosswise of the container.

Then, a sealing member is secured to the outer side of wall 8 of thetray and to the outer sides of the walls 24 and 25 of the cover, andthis may take the form of sealing tape 34. Thus, the tape overlies theexposed edges of the walls M and I6 of the reinforcing frame so that thecontainer is completely sealed. It will be noted that in this way thereare no cracks or crevices through which dust may enter the container toinjure or deteriorate material therein. In the case of sheets ofcellulose ester material and the like, this is an importantconsideration.

It will be noted that the container is simple in form so as to beeconomical to manufacture and is light in weight yet rugged inconstruction so as to insure at all times adequate protection. for thematerial within the container.

The container of the invention is adapted for many and various uses andwhile various changes and modifications may be made thereof withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is desired tobe limited if at all by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription. What is claimed is:

1. A shipping container of the class .described comprising, an innertray member having a rectangular substantially flat bottom wall andsubstantially vertical side and end walls of approximately equal heightextending upwardly from the marginal edges of said bottom wall, arectangular reinforcing frame consisting of joinedtogether side and endwalls approximately the same height as said side and end walls of thetray member, said side and end. walls of the frame being disposedclosely adjacent the outside of the side and end walls respectively ofthe tray member, a rectangular cover member including a substantiallyflat upper wall and side and end Walls extending downwardly from themarginal edges of said upper wall, said side and end walls of the covermember being disposed closely adjacent the outside of the side and endwalls respectively of the frame, and binding means associated with saidtray and cover members whereby said frame is held between the side andend walls of the cover and tray members with the upper marginal edges ofthe frame in abutment with the inside of the upper wall of the covermember.

2. A shipping container of the class described comprising, an inner traymember having a horizontally-disposed bottom wall and substantiallyvertical side and end walls extending upwardly from the marginal edgesof said bottom wall, a reinforcing frame consisting of joined-togetherside and end walls surrounding the side and end walls respectively ofthe tray member, a cover member including an upper wall and side and endwalls extending downwardly from the marginal edges of the upper walloutside of the side and end walls of the frame, binding means associatedwith said cover and tray members 3. A shipping container of the classdescribed 1 comprising, an inner tray member of relatively flexiblefibrous material having a horizontallydisposed bottom wall of a certainlength and width and substantially vertical side and end walls extendingupwardly from the marginal edges of said bottom wall, a reinforcingframe of greater length and width than said tray member and formed ofrelatively rigid fibrous material, said frame consisting ofjoined-together side and end walls which are disposed closely adjacentthe outsides of the side and end walls respectively of the tray member,a cover member of greater length and width than said frame including anupper wall and side and end walls extending domiwardly from the marginaledges of the upper wall and disposed closely adjacent the outsides ofthe side and end walls of the frame whereby a telescopic assembly isprovided, and binding means asociated with said cover and tray memberswhereby the said frame is held between the side and end walls of themembers.

4. A shipping container of the class described comprising, an inner traymember of relatively bendable material having a rectangular stantiallyflat bottom wall and side and end flaps bent upwardly from the marginaledges of said bottom wall, a rectangular reinforcing frame consisting ofjoined-together side and end Walls which are disposed closely adjacentthe outside of the side and end flaps respectively of the tray member, arectangular cover member including a substantially fiat upper wall andside and end walls extending downwardly from the marginal edges of saidupper wall, said side and end Walls of the cover member being disposedclosely adjacent the outside of the side and end walls respectively ofthe frame, and binding means associated with said tray and cover memberswhereby said frame is held between the flaps of the tray member and theside and end walls of the cover member with the upper marginal edges ofthe frame in abutment with the inside of the upper wall of the covermem- 4 her.

ARTHUR G. CEELY. 791;

